Exeter City Football Club (ECFC) has appointed global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle to help push forward plans for the redevelopment of its St James Park stadium.

The npower League One club is now aiming to recruit a joint venture partner for the scheme, which aims to bring the venue up to "standards appropriate for the npower Championship".

ECFC plans to replace its 1,690-capacity grandstand with a new 2,800-capacity structure and overhaul the St James Road End of the ground with a 2,200-seat stand.

It is proposed the project will be funded through the redevelopment of part of an adjacent car park, with improved player and referee facilities and a new players' gym and training facilities also planned.

ECFC chair Edward Chorlton said: "The redevelopment of St James Park has to be self-financing and will not impact on funding available for the team."